University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville to Opt In to House Settlement for 2026-27 School Year
04.03.2026 | General, Athletics News
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville Athletics announced Friday, April 3, 2026, that the university will opt in to the House vs. NCAA settlement for the 2026-27 academic year. The decision comes after declining to opt in for the initial year of the settlement.
"Competition and personal development are core to who we are at UNC Asheville," said Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone. "Athletics plays a vital role in building leaders, reinforcing discipline, and creating opportunities for growth, resilience, and support within our campus community. By opting in, we are positioning Bulldog Athletics to compete at a prominent level while staying true to our mission and values. This decision strengthens our ability to recruit and retain outstanding student-athletes and puts us in the best position to sustain success within the Big South Conference.
The athletic department's statement on not opting in for the initial year, was in part to enhance the resources that directly impact Bulldog student-athletes (scholarships, sports medicine services, mental health resources, etc.). The athletic department has also been actively improving its athletic facilities with the completion of the Karl Straus Track, the Jeff Fox Hitting Facility, fundraising for the new on-campus Tennis Facility and building the Sherri and Rob Daniels Golf Center.
In addition, the Kimmel Arena saw significant improvements which included a new floor, lights, and a center-hung videoboard along with upgrades to both the men's and women's locker rooms. Facility upgrades are a part of the athletic department's ALL IN comprehensive campaign that commenced in the summer of 2023.
Opting into the House Settlement with a focus on increasing scholarship aid and providing Cost of Attendance and Alston Funds will enable the University to strengthen both recruitment and retention efforts. Any increases would come from private contributions, not from university tuition and fees.
As part of the House Settlement, teams will have roster size limits, as directed by the NCAA. Each sport will no longer be subjected to scholarships awarded.
The 2026-27 school year will be the second year that institutions will have the opportunity to opt in to the House Settlement, as it was finalized during Spring 2025. UNC Asheville is one of four schools in the Big South that did not opt in to the settlement for the 2025-26 academic year.
HOW YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT
If you are interested in making a financial contribution to the sustainable success of Bulldog Athletics, there are opportunities available through giving to the Bulldog Club–the primary unrestricted scholarship fund of UNC Asheville Athletics.
